By Graeme Coulter, Head of Tennis

On Saturday the finals of the intra school tennis tournaments were contested, with parents able to come and watch for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Six finals were contested over the course of six hours.

Harry Hornsby and Nikolas Beecham took on Hari Walton and Tommy Hornsby in the boys doubles. The youngsters from Dunhurst played to a truly outstanding level to win 6-0, 1-6, 10-5. The mixed doubles was very closely contested by Paddy Arrowsmith, Sasha Arney, Tobias Bonham Carter and Jade Mark. This final was a brilliant match where momentum flowed form one pair to the other. It was eventually won by Paddy and Sasha 6-4, 6-7, 10-5. Grace Vernor-Miles, Lally Arengo-Jones, Sasha Arney and Alisia Leach played the girls doubles final. This was another close match where either side could have won, but Grace and Lally held their nerve to win for the second year running 6-4, 7-6.

The junior girls singles was played between Lola Mackay and Rebekah Leach. This was an outstanding match and both girls showed amazing grit and determination to compete through injuries. Rebekah was victorious after nearly two hours 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. The Junior Boys singles was contested between Nikolas Beecham and Hari Walton. Both players played very well with Hari winning in straight sets.

The final match of the day was the senior boys singles. This was played between Tobias Bonham Carter and Hari Walton. This was the best final I have seen since the introduction of the intra school tennis tournaments 12 years ago. Hari won his third title of the day 6-4, 7-6, but credit to both players who were absolutely outstanding. I could not have been more proud of all those involved. You were a huge credit to Bedales Tennis and Bedales School as a whole.